Tagesmutter or Krippe: choosing childcare for your baby

0-3 years · Family · Reviewed 20 June 2026 · All articles

Returning to work after parental leave -- or simply wanting your child to start socialising and learning -- means navigating one of the most consequential decisions of early parenthood: which childcare arrangement is right for your family? In Germany, two options dominate the landscape for children under three: the Tagesmutter (or Tagesvater) and the Krippe. Both are high-quality, regulated, and state-supported, but they differ substantially in setting, group size, flexibility, and approach. This guide walks you through everything you need to know to make a confident, informed choice.

What is a Tagesmutter or Tagesvater?

A Tagesmutter (literally "day mother") or Tagesvater ("day father") is a licensed childminder who cares for up to five children in a home environment -- usually their own home. The legal framework is set out in the Sozialgesetzbuch (SGB VIII), and every practising Tagesmutter must be approved and regularly monitored by the local Jugendamt (youth welfare office).

To receive a licence, a Tagesmutter must complete a recognised qualification -- typically the 160-hour curriculum developed by the Deutsches Jugendinstitut (DJI) or an equivalent state-approved course -- pass a suitability assessment, and have their home inspected for safety. They take on children across different ages, which can create a naturally mixed, family-like group dynamic. Many children find the smaller group and consistent one-on-one relationship with a single caregiver deeply reassuring, especially in the first months.

A Tagesvater operates under exactly the same legal framework. The feminine form Tagesmutter is conventionally used as the generic term, but fathers and non-binary carers are equally active in the profession.

The Tagesmutter is usually self-employed, but their fee is regulated: families pay an income-related parental contribution (Elternbeitrag) to the Jugendamt, which in turn pays the Tagesmutter a care allowance (Pflegegeld) plus a social security contribution top-up. This means parents do not pay the Tagesmutter directly in most cases -- you go through the Jugendamt.

What is a Krippe?

A Krippe is a group nursery for children from birth (or typically from around eight weeks) up to three years old, at which point children transition to a Kindergarten. Krippen are run by a range of providers: the municipality itself (kommunal), large welfare organisations such as Caritas, AWO, Diakonie, or DRK, small independent associations (Elterninitiative), or private commercial operators.

Group sizes are regulated by each federal state (Bundesland) and are typically between eight and fifteen children per group, with a ratio of approximately one educator to three or four children. Educators (Erzieherinnen and Erzieher) hold a state-recognised qualification, usually a three-year vocational training or a university-level early childhood education degree.

The nursery day is structured, with meal times, sleep routines, outdoor time, and planned activities. This predictable structure can be a real asset for children who thrive on routine, and many parents value the range of play materials, outdoor spaces, and peer interactions that a well-resourced Krippe can provide.

Opening hours vary. Many Krippen open from around 7:00 to 17:00 or 18:00, but some offer extended hours. Part-time places (Teilzeitplaetze), typically four to six hours per day, are common alongside full-time (Ganztagsplaetze) options.

Since August 2013, every child in Germany has a statutory right (Rechtsanspruch) to a childcare place from the age of one. This entitlement covers both Krippe and Tagesmutter placements. In principle, if your child is one or older and you need childcare, the municipality is obliged to provide a place. If they cannot offer one in their own facilities, they must help you find a place with an approved Tagesmutter and cover the costs in the same way.

In practice, supply has not kept pace with demand in many cities. Berlin, Hamburg, Munich, and Frankfurt all have documented waiting-list pressures. This makes early registration essential -- many families register during pregnancy to improve their chances. The Rechtsanspruch does not guarantee the specific provider or location you want; it guarantees a place somewhere within a reasonable distance.

Children under one do not have a statutory entitlement, but you can still apply. If a Krippe has a free place for an eight-month-old, or a Tagesmutter is willing to take a younger infant, nothing prevents it. Check with your local Jugendamt about any local funding rules for under-ones.

Vouchers, subsidies, and the Kita-Gutschein system

Childcare in Germany is heavily state-subsidised, but the exact mechanism varies by Bundesland and even by municipality.

In Berlin and Hamburg, the Kita-Gutschein system is used. Once your child reaches the eligible age, you apply to the Jugendamt for a voucher (Gutschein) that certifies your entitlement and specifies the daily hours funded. You take this voucher to your chosen provider -- whether a Krippe or a Tagesmutter -- and the provider invoices the Jugendamt directly. In Berlin, childcare has been free of parental contributions for several years, though this policy has been subject to budget discussions, so it is worth checking the current position with the Berliner Jugendamt or the official Berlin.de service portal.

In other states, parents pay an income-related Elternbeitrag directly to the Krippe or via the Jugendamt to a Tagesmutter. The contribution is calculated on the basis of your household income and, in some municipalities, on the number of hours booked. Low-income families are often fully exempt. Always ask your local Jugendamt for the current fee table (Elternbeitragstabelle) that applies to your family situation.

Elterngeld (parental benefit) is a separate payment made to parents during the first 12 to 14 months after birth to compensate for lost income. It is distinct from childcare funding. However, the timing of your Elterngeld period often determines when you want to start a childcare place, so the two interact in planning terms. Many families aim to start a Krippe or Tagesmutter place around the child's first birthday, as Elterngeld typically ends then and the Rechtsanspruch begins.

Comparing the two options: key differences

The choice between Tagesmutter and Krippe is not about which is objectively better -- research consistently shows that high-quality care in either setting produces equally good outcomes for children. The decision comes down to your child's temperament, your working hours, your values, and what is actually available in your area.

Group size and attachment

A Tagesmutter cares for a maximum of five children. This small group means your child is likely to receive more individual attention and to form a close bond with a consistent caregiver. For children who are slow to warm up or who have had a very close attachment to a primary carer at home, the gentler transition of a small home setting can be enormously helpful. The Eingewoehnung (settling-in period) tends to feel more relaxed because the environment is literally home-like.

A Krippe group of ten to fifteen children provides more peer interaction and a wider range of play experiences. Children who are sociable and curious may thrive in this livelier environment. Structured activities and specialist resources -- art materials, outdoor equipment, music -- are often richer than what a single home can offer.

Flexibility and hours

Tagesmutter arrangements are often more flexible on paper -- you may be able to negotiate pick-up and drop-off times directly, or arrange for occasional extra hours. However, a Tagesmutter is a single person: if she or he is ill, on holiday, or has a personal emergency, you may have no care for that day. Good Tagesmutter networks sometimes arrange cover among members, but this varies.

A Krippe has a team of educators, so cover is built in. Hours are fixed but predictable, and the nursery will usually remain open on any given day regardless of individual staff illness.

Continuity and transitions

With a Tagesmutter, your child may stay with the same person for two or more years -- from age one until they move to Kindergarten. That continuity of relationship is valuable. The transition to Kindergarten at three can feel more abrupt if the child has only known one intimate setting.

With a Krippe, the team of educators introduces your child to the idea of multiple trusted adults from an early age, which some developmental specialists consider a gentle and useful preparation for Kindergarten.

How to find a place: Kita-Navigator, Jugendamt, and waiting lists

Every municipality in Germany operates some form of childcare portal. The most widely used is the Kita-Navigator, which exists in many cities and allows parents to search for available places by postcode and child age, compare providers, and submit applications online. Some cities use different platforms -- Berlin uses the KitaMatch portal, Munich has the Muenchen KiBig Kita-Finder -- so search for your city's specific system.

To find an approved Tagesmutter, the best starting point is your local Jugendamt. Most districts maintain a register of approved childminders and can give you a list of those with current or upcoming vacancies. Vermittlungsstellen (matching agencies) for Tagesmutter also operate in many cities and can help match your requirements with an available childminder.

Practical tips for managing waiting lists:

Quality standards and oversight

Both Krippen and Tagesmutter are regulated and subject to quality oversight, but the mechanisms differ.

Krippen are inspected by state supervisory authorities (Heimaufsicht or equivalent) and must meet state-level quality frameworks. Many municipalities also run their own quality development programmes. The Bundesministerium fuer Familie, Senioren, Frauen und Jugend (BMFSFJ) publishes national guidance and the annual Kinder- und Jugendhilfestatistik which tracks staffing ratios, qualification levels, and places available across the country.

Tagesmutter are approved, trained, and monitored by the local Jugendamt. The Jugendamt conducts home visits, reviews documentation, and can withdraw a licence if standards are not met. The national umbrella organisation, the Bundesverband fuer Kindertagespflege, publishes professional standards and provides continuing professional development resources.

When assessing quality as a parent, look beyond the official inspection record. Observe how the educators interact with children during a visit. Are they warm and responsive? Do they get down to the children's level? Is the environment safe, stimulating, and calm? Trust your instincts -- they are usually well calibrated.

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Frequently asked questions

From what age does my child have a legal right to a childcare place?

Children have a legal entitlement (Rechtsanspruch) to a childcare place from the age of one. Before that, parents can still apply, but the entitlement only begins at 12 months. In practice, many families start the search during pregnancy because waiting lists can be long.

How much does a Krippe or Tagesmutter place cost?

Costs vary by federal state and municipality. Most families pay an income-related parental contribution (Elternbeitrag) that is calculated by the local Jugendamt. In some cities, such as Berlin, childcare is fully subsidised for families using the Kita-Gutschein voucher system. Always ask your local Jugendamt for the current fee schedule that applies to your household income.

What is a Kita-Gutschein and how do I get one?

A Kita-Gutschein is a childcare voucher issued by the Jugendamt in certain cities -- including Berlin and Hamburg. It confirms your entitlement to a subsidised childcare place and specifies the number of hours funded per day. You apply through your local Jugendamt, usually once your child turns one or slightly before. The voucher can be used at an approved Krippe or with an approved Tagesmutter.

Who approves and oversees a Tagesmutter?

The Jugendamt (youth welfare office) in each district is responsible for issuing licences to childminders and monitoring their practice. A licensed Tagesmutter must complete a recognised training course, pass a suitability assessment, and have their home inspected. They are allowed to care for up to five children at a time from different families.

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